My reply: The premise is faulty, first of all. It’s the government which insists (and pretends) that fuel economy is important. Most buyers regard fuel economy as one among many attributes, with others – such as capability, room performance – taking precedence.

The government isn’t really concerned about fuel economy – leaving aside whether this is any of the government’s legitimate business in a free society. If it did care as much as it pretends to about gas mileage, it would encourage lighter cars, for one. And, diesels. It actively thwarts both.

As regards hydraulic hybrids: Any alternative that doesn’t curtail mobility, whether via high cost or some other (technical) method is automatically memory holed because the object is to curtail mobility… not to find a better (cheaper/more efficient) form of mobility.

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Eric started out writing about cars for mainstream media outlets such as The Washington Times, Detroit News and Free Press, Investors Business Daily, The American Spectator, National Review, The Chicago Tribune and Wall Street Journal.